Skyrim: Clean Start
If you install, update and uninstall mods with any frequency it is highly recommended that you start a new game save by first reverting the game back to its original (vanilla) state. This is especially important if you have had a lot of problems with your previous play-thru. This ensures that any problem files that can possibly burden, corrupt or break your new save are removed. If you've never done this before, this process may seem daunting but with planning all future clean starts can be performed in minutes and with relative ease. If you already have a clean install of Skyrim you can skip the rest of this section and move directly to Tweaks.
To start, I recommend using Mod Organizer (MO) to manage your mods. It keeps them neatly stored outside of Skyrim's data folder and maintains a virtual load order applied each time the game starts. This means you can safely reinstall Skyrim without losing your mods or affecting their load order and saving a lot of time when starting fresh. Now to the process of reverting your game to its original state.
Step 1: Deactivate all mods in your preferred mod management program. (Also deactivate all Steam mods.)
Step 2: In the main Skyrim folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim) delete everything except the Data folder.
Step 3: In the Data folder delete everything except the main bsa, esp and esm files. What should remain:
Step 5: In Steam's game library right click on Skyrim and select Properties. Select the "Local Files" tab and click "Verify Integrity of Game Cache...." This will download missing game files.
Step 6: Activate SkyrimLauncher.exe in the main Skyrim folder to generate new Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini files.
That's it. If you followed these steps Skyrim has now been reverted back to its vanilla state with minimal fuss and you're ready to begin modding your game again.
See the next section Tweaks for information on setting graphics options and what to do next.
To start, I recommend using Mod Organizer (MO) to manage your mods. It keeps them neatly stored outside of Skyrim's data folder and maintains a virtual load order applied each time the game starts. This means you can safely reinstall Skyrim without losing your mods or affecting their load order and saving a lot of time when starting fresh. Now to the process of reverting your game to its original state.
Step 1: Deactivate all mods in your preferred mod management program. (Also deactivate all Steam mods.)
Step 2: In the main Skyrim folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim) delete everything except the Data folder.
Step 3: In the Data folder delete everything except the main bsa, esp and esm files. What should remain:
- Dawnguard.bsa
- Dawnguard.esm
- Dragonborn.bsa
- Dragonborn.esm
- HearthFires.bsa
- HearthFires.esm
- HighResTexturePack01.bsa
- HighResTexturePack01.esp
- HighResTexturePack02.bsa
- HighResTexturePack02.esp
- HighResTexturePack03.bsa
- HighResTexturePack03.esp
- Skyrim - Animations.bsa
- Skyrim - Interface.bsa
- Skyrim - Meshes.bsa
- Skyrim - Misc.bsa
- Skyrim - Shaders.bsa
- Skyrim - Sounds.bsa
- Skyrim - Textures.bsa
- Skyrim - Voices.bsa
- Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa
- Skyrim.esm
- Update.bsa
- Update.esm
Step 5: In Steam's game library right click on Skyrim and select Properties. Select the "Local Files" tab and click "Verify Integrity of Game Cache...." This will download missing game files.
Step 6: Activate SkyrimLauncher.exe in the main Skyrim folder to generate new Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini files.
That's it. If you followed these steps Skyrim has now been reverted back to its vanilla state with minimal fuss and you're ready to begin modding your game again.
See the next section Tweaks for information on setting graphics options and what to do next.